Though it is most famous for its world-class ski resort, the town of Breckenridge, Colorado also offers a multitude of non-ski winter activities. With over 300 inches of light, fluffy snow falling on the surrounding mountain peaks each winter, Breckenridge also draws visitors seeking a mountain paradise where non-ski winter activities abound. Visitors can wake up to new adventures daily with options for snowmobiling, Nordic skiing, dog sledding, winter fly fishing, sleigh rides, tubing, sledding and ice skating.

The changing of the seasons doesn’t bring an end to fly fishing in Breckenridge’s high country. The area is home to several gold medal rivers, streams and lakes where highly skilled guides can hook you up with trophy sized fish. Visitors who are willing to endure the chilly winter temperatures will find uncrowded riverbanks, surrounded by an amphitheater of snowcapped mountain peaks. Massive trout are waiting to hit your fly on virtually every cast, and with an expert guide at your side, you’ll be in a prime position to catch them.

The Breckenridge area has become a snowmobiling Mecca and provides an almost unfathomable amount of terrain to explore. Local outfitters provide both guided and unguided tours and rentals, which allows guests to choose their level of adventure. Snowmobiling provides motorized access to the backcountry glades and bowls that abound in the area, with opportunities for postcard-like photos at nearly every turn of the trail. “High Adventure” tours are available for more adventurous riders who would like to rice Breckenridge’s deepest backcountry powder at full-throttle speeds.

Those seeking to experience the local backcountry with a non-motorized form of transportation will appreciate the wilderness via a guided dog sled tour. Local dog sledding tours run through the middle fork of the Swan River Valley, enabling visitors to experience some of Breckenridge’s deepest forests as well as the historic mining camps and ghost towns that once populated the area.

The Rocky Mountains are also home to phenomenal cross country skiing – a favorite pastime amongst Breckenridge locals. Stop by one of the three local Nordic Centers located in town, or break your own trail on an excursion into the area’s easily accessible backcountry. The United States Army’s 10th mountain division maintains several backcountry huts throughout the area that can be rented for a night or the week, providing a warm base of operations for backcountry skiing excursions

Families who are looking for adventurous sledding options will find several options within a short drive of Breckenridge. Although the Breckenridge Ski Resort does not offer a tubing hill on its slopes, its nearby sister resort, Keystone, does. Tubing is available at Keystone during the day and into the evening hours. The town of Breckenridge is home to Carter Park, a walk-up slide-down sledding hill with a generous slope and a long out run. Bring your own sled or pick one up at a local supermarket. Carter Park provides sledding opportunities free of charge while visitors will have to pay for access to the Keystone Resort’s tubing runs.

Breckenridge’s three local ice rinks can provide for a morning or afternoon of skating with your family. The Stephen C. West Ice Arena offers 2 NHL sized ice surfaces and hosts open skating hours daily. The Maggie Pond, located within the resort’s Peak 9 base area, offers outdoor skating opportunities with phenomenal views of the Ten Mile Range and Bald Mountain. Skate rentals are available at both locations.

Finally, local dinner and scenic sleigh rides provide an evening of entertainment for the entire family. Rides take place on red Santa-style sleighs and are pulled by massive Belgian draft horses. Sleigh rides are operated on Breckenridge’s Jack Nicklaus designed golf course and through the wilderness of the Swan River Valley. With a star-filled sky lighting the way, guests are treated to fantastic views of the surrounding mountain ranges. Filling meals and hot cocoa are served in rustic lodges heated by giant hearths and warm mountain hospitality.

Whether you’re an expert skier or a beginner who’s learning to link your first turns on the mountain, be sure you sample some of Breckenridge’s non-ski activities when visiting the area this winter. Opportunities for winter recreation in Breckenridge are unsurpassed, with several opportunities to enjoy the town’s spectacular snow that don’t involve skis, snowboards or chairlifts.

Ben Kelly
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/a-multitude-of-winter-activities-abound-in-breckenridge-colorado-589252.html

Because of the nature of Crappie, pretty much any pole will suffice. However, beware as Crappie do not put up an admirable fight like other freshwater fish do. Sometimes, you may not even know that you caught a Crappie unless you are paying close attention. This is the main reason a lightweight pole should be used.

Cane poles are a good option if you are on a small budget. Cane pole sets can be found at just about any department stores fishing department or outdoors store.

Fly rods work in the same manner as cane poles, but they allow you more control over bait placement.

Telescopic poles give you the length to pitch into heavy cover. Telescopic poles can reach lengths up to 16 or 18 feet. This way, if the cover you are fishing is wide, you have more control placing your bait in specific spots. Telescopic rods are also popular because you can collapse them to a much smaller version, allowing you to carry your pole with you. In the event that you decide to stop at the river on the way home, you always have a pole with you.

Live Bait

While your tackle box should contain a number of different types of bait, you should always have a few live bait on hand.

Live bait will only work if that is what the Crappie in your area are eating. You can find out their diets by calling your local parks and wildlife office, visiting their website, or even talking to other fisherman in the area. Once you know what they are eating, match it.

A cast net is a popular way of catching live bait, and will save you money each time you visit the bait shop.

Artificial Bait

There are thousands of types of artificial bait available on the market, one of the most popular being Jigs. Crappie jigs allow diversity as there are endless combinations of color, size, type, and movement.

Jigs are also popular as they do not require you to retie bait on each time you decide to switch or each time you catch a fish.

If you are unsure about the types and colors available, many stores offer crappie fishing kits, which include a number of various types and colors.

Boats

Like the type of pole you are using, the type of boat in which you are in makes little difference. If you are planning on trolling, it may be a good idea to have a boat with enough room to sustain the amount of poles you are wanting to place in the water. Each pole should be about 8 to 12 inches apart. Do not worry about the line tangling when the crappie take the bait, this rarely happens.

Daniel Eggertsen
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/crappie-fishing-tackle-101559.html

The State Record for Black Crappie in Indiana is 4 pounds, 11 ounces. Black Crappie prefer water temperatures of 68 to 72 Degrees, and deeper, slow moving waters.

Rules and Regulations

Like other states, Indiana requires you to purchase a fishing license before fishing in any public waters in Indiana. The only exception to this is in private ponds and lakes. To obtain a residential fishing license, you must have lived in Indiana for a minimum of 60 days. All others will be issued a none-resident license.

You can purchase your license online though the Indiana government website, or at any local retailer, DNR office, by phone, or by mail.

Indiana allows for a few exemptions. If you are over the age of 65 you are not required to obtain a fishing license, however you must carry a valid ID stating your age and area of residence. If you are under the age of 17, or legally blind, you are not required to purchase a license. All military personal on leave may fish without a license as long as you carry your leave orders with you at all times, and Indiana is your home state.

Indiana Hot Spots

EAGLE CREEK RESERVOIR – Eagle Creek Reservoir is 10 miles northwest of downtown Indianapolis and just off Interstate 465. It was impounded as a water-supply lake and covers approximately 1,350 acres. It has an average depth of 18 feet with a maximum depth of 45 feet.

An ample amount of cover is available towards the upper end of the lake.

MORSE RESERVOIR – Morse Reservoir is a water supply reservoir owned by the Indianapolis Water Company. The lake spans over 1,350 acres, and can reach a depth of up to 45 feet in some areas. Beware, as some spots on the lake are very narrow.

There is a large amount of cover available throughout the entire lake. Wooded areas and submerged logs provide the essential cover needed for Crappie fishing.

SULLIVAN LAKE – Sullivan Lake is in the southwestern parts of Indiana near the town of Sullivan. This is a small lake, only covering 461 acres. The average depth is 10 feet, with spots up to 25 feet deep. The primary fish found in Sullivan Lake is white crappie. About 50% of all fisherman fishing on Sullivan lake are fishing for Crappie.

One interesting fact about Lake Sullivan is the fact that the crappie feed largely on bug instead of other small fish, despite the large amount of shad available in the lake. Biologists studied the stomach contents of the Crappie to find a large amount of caddis fly larvae.

Daniel Eggertsen
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/crappie-fishing-in-indiana-100164.html

The State Record for Black Crappie in Indiana is 4 pounds, 11 ounces. Black Crappie prefer water temperatures of 68 to 72 Degrees, and deeper, slow moving waters.

Rules and Regulations

Like other states, Indiana requires you to purchase a fishing license before fishing in any public waters in Indiana. The only exception to this is in private ponds and lakes. To obtain a residential fishing license, you must have lived in Indiana for a minimum of 60 days. All others will be issued a none-resident license.

You can purchase your license online though the Indiana government website, or at any local retailer, DNR office, by phone, or by mail.

Indiana allows for a few exemptions. If you are over the age of 65 you are not required to obtain a fishing license, however you must carry a valid ID stating your age and area of residence. If you are under the age of 17, or legally blind, you are not required to purchase a license. All military personal on leave may fish without a license as long as you carry your leave orders with you at all times, and Indiana is your home state.

Indiana Hot Spots

EAGLE CREEK RESERVOIR – Eagle Creek Reservoir is 10 miles northwest of downtown Indianapolis and just off Interstate 465. It was impounded as a water-supply lake and covers approximately 1,350 acres. It has an average depth of 18 feet with a maximum depth of 45 feet.

An ample amount of cover is available towards the upper end of the lake.

MORSE RESERVOIR – Morse Reservoir is a water supply reservoir owned by the Indianapolis Water Company. The lake spans over 1,350 acres, and can reach a depth of up to 45 feet in some areas. Beware, as some spots on the lake are very narrow.

There is a large amount of cover available throughout the entire lake. Wooded areas and submerged logs provide the essential cover needed for Crappie fishing.

SULLIVAN LAKE – Sullivan Lake is in the southwestern parts of Indiana near the town of Sullivan. This is a small lake, only covering 461 acres. The average depth is 10 feet, with spots up to 25 feet deep. The primary fish found in Sullivan Lake is white crappie. About 50% of all fisherman fishing on Sullivan lake are fishing for Crappie.

One interesting fact about Lake Sullivan is the fact that the crappie feed largely on bug instead of other small fish, despite the large amount of shad available in the lake. Biologists studied the stomach contents of the Crappie to find a large amount of caddis fly larvae.

Daniel Eggertsen
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/crappie-fishing-in-indiana-100164.html